Residents raise concerns about online tax‑sale process, delinquent‑tax removals and long‑running drainage problems

Several residents used the public‑comment period at the April 1 LaPorte County meeting to press the Board on tax‑sale procedures, alleged delinquent‑tax removals and long‑standing drainage problems.

Bob Pollock of Michigan City said he learned this year’s Commissioners’ Tax Sale bidding was handled only online and via Zoom and urged the Board to allow interested parties to bid on parcels if no bid materializes or if an initial bidder fails to pay. Pollock told commissioners his interaction with Auditor’s staff was positive and called the restrictions ‘‘complicated’’ for some older or less tech‑savvy residents.

Rick Kentaft told the Board he noticed a delinquent tax from 2015 for a current county candidate, Jody Slabaugh, was removed on Feb. 13 without payments or a payment plan. Kentaft said he plans to contact federal authorities to investigate what he described as ‘‘nefarious activity’’ concerning candidates’ addresses and voting history; Attorney Guy DiMartino reminded speakers that the public‑comment period is not a question‑and‑answer forum and did not provide a response on the substance of Kentaft’s allegations.

Louie Spear described chronic flooding tied to Shurz and Travis ditches and alleged the Drainage Board was prevented from acting in 2019; he warned the matter could end up in court and said property owners have suffered for decades.

Why it matters: tax‑sale procedures affect how tax‑delinquent parcels return to the tax rolls; allegations about removed delinquent taxes for a candidate raise election‑integrity concerns that were not substantively addressed at the meeting; drainage complaints implicate ongoing infrastructure and property‑damage issues.

The Board accepted public comment but made no formal response to the substantive allegations during the meeting; citizens were told personnel or specific investigations should be pursued through appropriate offices.